Kevin Hart is "evaluating" returning as Oscars host after Ellen called the Academy to vouch for him

The Hollywood Reporter

On Thursday, Ellen DeGeneres sat down with Hart for an "incredible and honest conversation" that is scheduled to air Friday. In the emotional hourlong interview, Hart discussed the backlash to his past homophobic jokes and his decision to drop out as Oscar host. Ellen tweeted clips of the interview Thursday night, saying she believes in forgiveness and believes in Hart. And Ellen, who hosted the Oscars in 2007 and 2014, revealed to Hart she called the Academy because she wanted him to host.  "I called them," she said. "I said, 'Kevin’s on, I have no idea if he wants to come back and host, but what are your thoughts?' And they were like, 'Oh my God, we want him to host! We feel like that maybe he misunderstood or it was handled wrong. Maybe we said the wrong thing but we want him to host. Whatever we can do we would be thrilled. And he should host the Oscars.'" The Academy has yet to respond to Ellen's version of events. But Hart later said he would "assess" whether he'll reprise his role as Oscar host, which he quit a month ago after two days. "Leaving here, I promise you, I'm evaluating this conversation," said Hart. "This is a conversation I needed to have, I'm glad that I had it here, and I'm glad that it was as authentic and real as I could have hoped that it would be. So let me assess, just to sit in this space and really think, and you and I will talk before anything else." Ellen also revealed she had been speaking to Hart about hosting the Oscars since she hosted for the second time in 2014. “As a gay person, I am sensitive to all of that," she said of his homophobic jokes controversy. "You’ve already expressed that it's not being educated on the subject, not realizing how dangerous those words are, not realizing how many kids are killed for being gay or beaten up every day. You have grown, you have apologized, you are apologizing again right now. You’re done it. Don’t let those people win — host the Oscars.” UPDATE: Ellen is facing a backlash for calling Hart's critics "haters" and "trolls."